Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 42-year-old Indian woman, Neetu Neetu, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano for attempting to smuggle 11 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria. The drugs were cleverly hidden inside wafer wraps disguised as chocolates.
According to NDLEA, officers intercepted Neetu during an inward clearance operation on Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha, on Friday, March 14, 2025. Acting on credible intelligence, officers conducted a thorough search of her luggage, leading to the discovery of 72 parcels of heroin classified as a Class A drug.
NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that Neetu’s arrest highlights a growing trend of drug traffickers using foreign nationals to smuggle narcotics into Nigeria. He commended the vigilance of NDLEA operatives, whose proactive intelligence measures and advanced surveillance tools continue to disrupt such illegal activities.
Other Drug-Related Arrests in Nigeria
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers in Kano arrested 45-year-old Michael Ogundele on March 20 with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder along the Zaria-Kano road. A search revealed 50,000 tramadol pills (225mg) hidden inside the cylinder.
On March 19, officers also apprehended 40-year-old Sunday Ogar in Gunduwawa, Kano, with 27 kilograms of skunk (a potent strain of cannabis).
On March 18, another suspect, Khadijah Abdullahi (40), was arrested in Lungun Bulala Yalwa with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, NDLEA officers arrested Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa in Mushin with 67.5 kilograms of skunk. An additional 100.8 kilograms were recovered from a storage facility belonging to two fugitive suspects in the Anifowoshe area.
On the same day, Isah Idris was arrested in Apapa with 4.5 kilograms of skunk, 600 grams of tramadol (225mg), and 30 litres of codeine syrup.
Another suspect, Yahaya Mohamed, was arrested in Ikotun with multiple quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on March 23, 2025, from the agency’s Abuja headquarters.
NDLEA’s Continued Crackdown on Drug Trafficking
NDLEA continues to intensify its fight against drug trafficking, ensuring that Nigeria remains an unprofitable destination for drug cartels. The agency urges the public to report suspicious activities as it remains committed to safeguarding lives and national security.
